Chapter Two, for those that are reading it

The Gate

Chapter two

My name is June. I have always hated that name, I thought it sounded like and old lady. When I was a kid, my favorite Auntie called me June Bug. I never knew what that was, but she smiled when she called me that name, so it must have been good. That was my Aunt Julie. I just loved her. She passed on a few years back. Hmmmmm, I hadn’t thought of her for a while.

I moved to this part of the neighborhood after I left my husband. We had been married for seven years, and he turned out to be an abusive partner. He started drinking after work. When he drank, he would get violent and take it out on me. One time, he threw something at me. When he missed, he tried to hit me. I only took that once, and then left him. There was no reason to allow that to get any worse. It was an easy split, as splits go. There was no children, and we really didn’t own a whole lot, so I just took what was mine, that I knew he didn’t want, and filed for divorce. As I figured he would do, he said I aggravated him into abusing me, and he tried to follow me and continue to abuse me.

I had to file a police report, get a restraining order, take action to keep him away from me. It seemed to do the trick. I haven’t heard from him for so long, I almost forget I was ever even married. I like it better that way. I like being single and being able to do what I want. I have grown very independent in this time by myself. I have a small group of friends I like to socialize with. I trust these people, and cant seem even think of not having them around me. They are my support group for all the things I need support for. Which, by the way, isn’t a whole lot.

When I got the position with this marketing firm, I really didn’t think it was going to last. I figured this would be the job that got me through to my next one, until I could find my dream job, of what ever it was so many years ago. I had gone to college, and never really liked the classes I took, I just kept taking things to get my associates with no real goal in mind. What a waste of money and time on my part I thought. I had to pay for the school and for myself, so any job that paid well was good for me. There was an opening here for a proofreader and I applied for it. After a few interviews and showing I did know how to read and my college did teach me something, I finally got the job. I worked in a room with somewhat good lighting and read copy of marketing literature all day, looking for spelling and grammar errors. I found them, marked them and turned them in. If I also saw something that just didn’t sound like a consumer would be attracted to, I also gave that feedback, depending on the person I was reading for.

I became quite good at reading copy and knowing what consumers would be attracted to. It became a quiet little challenge to me to see how many copies I could get them to change. As I was doing this, I also started taking more classes in the marketing field. I knew that I would have to do this if I wanted to stay in this field. I really was enjoying myself and making good money. I had a few promotions as they became available, but I wanted more. I have finally worked my way to a management position, through hard work, and lot of research. I have been scorned by people that have gone to school just for this position, been told I don’t deserve this job and many other things I would rather not have to go into. But the bottom line is making clients happy, and I know how to do that. And, I do it well with the help of some really great writers.

I remember when I found this little apartment for sale. I thought it was strange to sell just one apartment in a whole building, but when I saw it, I just had to have it. I walked up five steps of the large brick building to the front door. There is another door next to mine that belongs to the original owners, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. They still live there with their cats and a bird. But my place is just perfect for me. It has two bedrooms, one of which is a study but can be an extra bedroom in a matter of minutes. I have a sleeper couch in there just in case. The floors are all hardwood, the kitchen is just the right size for me, not so big I get lost in it. Through the years, I have made a few small improvements, refinished the floors, painted, upgraded the bathroom. I love my little place.

It had sat empty for a few months waiting for someone to come along and buy it. My neighbors said so many people looked at this place, but for some reason, they all just walked away from it. When it was within walking distance to my job, was just the right size, the price was right, I felt like my life was waiting for me to start over in this little place. I had to have it. I don’t even remember how I did the financing, I had no cash to speak of, but I was allowed to purchase this place. It happened so fast it seems. But I know this is where I am supposed to be.